Gurkha Made SMLE ?

[mrclark303]

I will have a look tomorrow Jim, on my phone at the moment with an iffy G4 signal. Sounds fascinating.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Aren't those Thai markings?

[Robert303]

@browningautorifle post #12 I do not think so as I have a RAMA VI rifle and the markings are completely different and the marks shown do not look like Thai script

[browningautorifle]

Just looked it up, yes it's Nepali...

[tdarmo]

I was wondering what do you think a value for it would be. I was thinking of selling. There aren't any other examples to compare it to.

[5thBatt]

I was wondering what do you think a value for it would be. I was thinking of selling. There aren't any other examples to compare it to.

They are quite rare & certainly no "Khyber pass" value will be whatever a collector is willing to pay, i for one would pay more than twice the price of a normal SMLE for one & still think i did well if not think i stole it!

[5thBatt]

There is a section on these in Ian Skennertons TLE starting at the bottom of page 371 with photos on pages 372,373 & 374

[mrclark303]

I see they used the RFI SMLE type forend tie plate, similar to the No4.

So I guess they copied an RFD example.

[Thunderbox]

I don't think the rifles were "copied"; they were actual licensed production (or assembly).

IIRC the Nepalese were given drawings, tools, gauges and expert help (from Enfield and /or Ishapore) by the British so that they could attempt a short manufacturing run. It could be that the action bodies themselves were donated - it would be interesting to make a detail comparison with contemporary Ishapore or Enfield.

Edit: the version in the OP post has been restocked (badly) with Ishapore wood. The originals have standard 1930s forends without the tie plate.

[mrclark303]

Fascinating, thanks for sharing the information, great idea for a side by side comparison that would be very interesting exercise